The San Diego Chargers announced today in a special ceremony at Helix High School that they have awarded $250,000 in grants through their Chargers Champions program. Chargers Champions provides grants for new facilities and equipment to improve the physical fitness of students in San Diego County schools.

“This is our signature program,” said Executive Vice President - Chief Executive Officer A.G. Spanos. “And that’s for two reasons. San Diego is our home, and San Diego schools need our help. The true heroes are the teachers and administrators who put forward the effort for the students every day on a daily basis. We’re just happy and very appreciative to be in a position to support them.”

Also appreciative are the students who directly benefit from the Chargers Champions program.

“This is great because it helps us get new equipment that we really need,” said Helix High School student Brittani Powers. “Right now a lot of it is old, so it will be nice to have some new equipment that we can use.”

Altogether, nine schools will receive grants. They include Helix High School ($75,000), Mission Bay High School ($75,000), Digueno Middle School ($22,000), Washington Middle School ($22,000), Christa McAuliffe Elementary School ($17,000), Del Rio Elementary School ($15,000), Cajon Park Elementary School ($13,000), Ross Elementary School ($4,000) and Valley Center High School ($3,000).

“We are incredibly fortunate to have organizations like the San Diego Chargers step up to support education,” said Dr. Randolph Ward, the San Diego Superintendent of Schools. “By providing these resources, the Chargers are making a real difference in the lives of local children, not only today but in the future.”

Since its’ inception in 2000, the Spanos Family has donated over $4.5 million to San Diego’s schools through Chargers Champions. The program has provided more support for San Diego-area schools than any other individual or private company in San Diego County.

Since its’ inception in 2000, the Spanos Family has donated over $4.5 million to San Diego’s schools through Chargers Champions. The program has provided more support for San Diego-area schools than any other individual or private company in San Diego County.

Since its’ inception in 2000, the Spanos Family has donated over $4.5 million to San Diego’s schools through Chargers Champions. The program has provided more support for San Diego-area schools than any other individual or private company in San Diego County.

I am very impressed that the Spanos family has kept this program going through the lean economic times. With the cuts that all schools have been forced to make, this influx of private money is a huge deal to these schools.

My kid's school was awarded a $50,000 donation through this program when we got the football program started 3 years ago. We requested $25,000 as the amount we needed for the final funding for the program. The Spanos' through Chargers Champions doubled the request, sent a player (Legadu N.) and cheerleader to the first home game, and the Athletic Director of the school went on the field at Qualcomm for a ceremony at the halftime of a Bolts game.

When I hear people say that having the Chargers in San Diego isn't worth the expense, or that the team is cheap, I think about the generosity showed to all these local schools and can't help but shake my head.

Good job Spanos Family. Other local businesses could stand to learn a thing or two from your example of giving back to the local community.